Combined beacon and lantern



NOV. 11, 1930. FRlEDMAN 1,781,326

COMBINED BEACON AND LANTERN Filed Feb. 12, 1930 gwuento r CL amar/K Patented Nov. 11, 1930 b ren STATES ISADORE FRIEDMAN, OF? BOXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS COMBINED BEACON AND LANTERN Application filed February 12, 1930. Serial No. 427,811.

The present invention relates to the art of electrically illuminated lanterns, and deals more particularly with a combined lantern and beacon especially adapted for the illumination of gasoline filling stations, service stations and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention are (a) To provide a novel combined lantern 10 and beacon which shall possess the dual functions of projecting a concentrated beam of lightupwardly into the air to attract the attention of persons at great distances from the device, and of simultaneously adequately illuminating its immediate surroundings. This is particularly advantageous when the invention is used in connection with gasoline filling stations and the like. Each of a sys tem of such stations could be provided with a plurality of the lanterns. The peculiar elfect, visible by motorists perhaps miles away, which would be created by the plurality of upstanding beams of light would then be associated by the motorists with the particular system of stations and their gasoline. A motorist, whose supply of gas was running low,

seeing the lights above described could then wait until he reached the system station, and

replenish his supply, instead of having to stop at a small country station selling perhaps an inferior quality of gas.

(6) To provide a novel combined beacon and lantern in which the reflector member shall be adequately protected against the elements.

(c) To provide a combined beacon and lantern which shall be artistic in appearance and rugged in its character, but shall be comparatively inexpensive to construct.

These and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from a perusal of the detailed description below, are attained by the embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed, consisting of the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts fully described below, illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the present invention assembled in operative position; and

Figure 2 is a half View, taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the main lantern housing as a whole. Thishousing is made up, of a base portion 2, which may be constructed of any desired material but which is preferably made of cast iron. This base portion is adapted to act as a cradle support for the reflector unit, as will be explained in greater detail below.

Mounted upon the base portion 2 is a metallic framework made up of a plurality of heavy copper or cast iron members 3, which are securely welded or otherwise held together. The upper members 3 are inwardly offset as shown with respect to thelower 7 members 3, and the two sets of framework thus formed are joined together by beveled portions 4. The top of the structure is formed by the beveled members 5. Centrally of the top thereof, the lantern is provided with a circular opening. At the boundaryof the said opening the members 5 are formed with an annular seat 6.

The annular seat 6 provides a support for the upper or cover lens 7. This lens rests upon the rubber gasket 8 placed in the annular seat 6, and is securely held in place by the retaining ring 9. The cover lens 7 is preferably a round, molded, heat-resisting clear glass lens, and by virtue of the method in which it is positioned in the top of the lantern, it prevents the penetration into the body of the latter through its top ofany undesirable foreign matter, such as rain, snow,

etc.

Positioned in the openings of the framework formed by the members 3 are the glass panels 10. These are preferably made of flashed white opal glass, and because of the preferred octagonal construction of the framework shown, there are sixteen of such glass panels. In order to provide easy access into the interior of the lantern, one or more of such panels may be hinged in any desirable manner (not shown).

.lOG

Supported in the base'portion 2 in any desired manner is the brass reflector casing 11.

The lowermost portion of the casing 11 7 through the lantern.

Depending from the top 15 of the base 2 is a. second annular seat 16, the diameter of which is much larger than the diameter of the seat 6. Positioned on the seat 16 is the gasket 17 The latter forms a cushioned support for the weatherprooflng lens 18, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of the reflector 14.

The lens 18is securely held in placexby the retaining ring 19, and is similar in character to the cover lens 7, except that it is much larger than the latter. J

In operation, a floodlight lamp of suiiicient intensity is used. The parabolic reflector 14;

projects? a concentrated beam of light upwardly through the top of the lanternto act as a beacon. The flashed opal glass panels 10, 'whiclrmay appropriately be termeddit- V fusing panels, act to provide "general illumi- "nation on the surroundings byutilizing the .lightflux from the lamp which isnot controlled by the reflector. 4 In this manner there isyprovideda combination concentrated vertical beam floodlight (or beacon) and general illumination (or lantern) unit.

' .J In accordance with the patentstatutes,1 have described the principles and construction of my combined beacon and lantern, and

while-I have illustrated a particular forma- 'tion, Idesire to have it understood that the same is only'villustrative of a means of carrying out my invention in one form, and that obvious1changes may be made by, anyone skilled in the artwithin the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention;

Iclaim:

.A combinedbeacon and' lantern includ- 1ng a housing having top and side portions, a reflector unit in said houslng adapted to project a concentrated beam of light up-' weatherprooflng lens in said housing adjacent to and abovesaid projectlng means.

3. A combined beacon and lantern espe= V cially adapted for the illumination of gasoline stations and the like including a housing,

said housing comprising a base and a metal-- ing a casing, a reflector mounted in said CZLS,"

ing, and a floodlight lamp 7 adjustably mounted in said casing; means supported in the sides of said framework comprising glass panels adapted to diffuse that portion of the light flux from said lamp which. is not controlled by said reflectonwhereby to provide for the general illumination of the surroundings of sa1d housing, a cover. glass for sa1d opening, and a w'eatherprooflng lens in said housing above said reflector unit.

Signed atCa-mbridge, in the county of. liiiddlesex, and State of Massacl1usetts, this 10 day of February, 1930.

ISADORE FRIEDMAN.

Wardly-through the top of the said housing,

diffusing. glass panelsin said side portions, a

cover lens removably mounted in the said top, and a weatherproofing lens removably mounted adjacent to'and above said reflector unit.

'2, In a device of the class described,fin

wardly through the said top, means for diffusing light through the said side portions, a lens-shaped cover glass in said .t0p;, and a 

